Account-book.



H. G. HOOK.

ACCOUNT BOOK.

APPLICATION FILED M 1,083,280.

Patented Jan; 6, 1914.

2 BHBETk-SHEI-lfl.

H. G. HOOK.

AOGOUNT BOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

1,983,280 Patented Jan. 6, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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QOLUMBIA PLANOOIIAPH CO" WMW, U C.

FIGE.

HENRY GAGE HOOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACCOUNT-BOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 18, 1908.

Patented Jan. 6, 1 91 i. Serial No. 433,507.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GAGE Hoox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAccount-Books, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to blank books in which accounts or entries of any kind are designed to be kept in alphabetical order, although more especially intended for such books as ledgers, dockets, registers, and the like where a large number of entries or accounts are kept, and it is especially applicable to a loose leaf book that is capable of being expanded.

The principal object of the invention is to so arrange and distribute the alphabetical index sheets employed that any particu lar name, entry, account or the like, and its location in the book, may be readily determined.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a book of the character described adapted to carry the greatest number of accounts on the least number of sheets, whereby considerable time may be saved to the user of the invention in ascertaining the location of any desired entry, and less material is employed in a single book, as compared with other books having a similar purpose and adapted to carry the same number of accounts or entries.

To these and other minor ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in a book for accounts and other entries having the peculiarities'of structure and arrangement, especially as relates to the distribution of the ind x sheets, as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating practical embodiments thereof, in Which Figure l is a broken perspective view of my improved account book, the same being shown as opened to expose the first index sheet therein. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of another index sheet of'the same character as that appearing in Fig. 1, this view also showing certain of thetabs and identifying numerals of underlying sheets of the book. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view Wit-h certain of the sheets turned back and exposing a series of interposed supplemening a row tal entry sheets designed to and frequently used accounts.

Referring now to the drawings, 4 designates as an entirety an account book, such as a ledger, between the covers of whichare bound, preferably under the loose-leaf system, a number of entry sheets 5 of any usual or approved form, between which entry sheets are distributed at intervals a number of index sheets 6. Each index sheet 6 is ruled vertically and horizontally, as shown, providing a plurality of rectangular spaces or squares 7, in the inner vertical row of which squares are printed a series 8 of consecutive numerals, such as 1 to '10, the upper horizontal row of such squares also bear- 9 of consecutive numerals corresponding with said vertical row. In the oblique row of spaces which aline withboth the horizontal and vertical rows thus identified by numerals are printed letters indicat ing alphabetical divisions, these latter being indicated at 10.

A great many alphabetical divisions for index purposes are known, such divisions varying widely in extent according to the size of the book in which they are employed and the number of entries to be served thereby, and, of course, any convenient or suitable group or system may be employed in connection with my invention.

Each index sheet is cut away along its upper margin, as shown at 11, to expose therebeneath the upper right-hand corner portions of the series of entry sheets 5 lying between said index sheet (5 and the next succeeding index sheet, these underlying entry sheets being each similarly cut away to carry special graduated extents, as shown at 12, and the exposed corners of each of said sheets-bearing a row 13 of consecutivenumerals above and corresponding with the immediate un derlying row 9 of said numerals on the in dex sheet.

To the outer margin of each index sheet is attached an index tab 14, each tab bearmg an alphabetical index corresponding to the last or lowermost of the alphabetical indices printed on the index sheet, although, where a single index sheet covers all thedivisions of a single letter, the tab may have printed thereon simply that letter: and these index sheets are distributed at intervals throughout the book, with the entry sheets between any two consecutive index sheets.

The tabs 14 are, of course, grouped and arlar entry, the book is opened to expose the index sheet under which such entry falls, and this sheet showing in one of its vertical columns the specific location of such entry, the latter is found by simply placing the thumb on the exposed numeral of the entry sheet at the head of said column, and then turning back all of the preceding index and entry sheets. For instance, assuming that it is desired to find an entry under the name of Alton. The thurrb of the user is placed on the marginal tab A and the book is opened to expose the index sheet to which this tab is attached, as shown in Fig. 1. The name Alton is found under column 8. The user then places his thumb upon the exposed numeral 8 of the series of underlying entry sheets, and throws back all of the preceding sheets, and the Alton account will thus be found on entry sheet 8 under index sheet A.

Under ordinary conditions the main entry sheets alone such as any of the series 5, are sufiicient; but it not infrequently happens that, among the accounts kept in such a book, there are a few large or frequently used accounts, requiring considerably more space in the book than the average account, and hence it is desirable to provide, in association with the main account or entry sheet for any one or more alphabetical division as indicated on the index sheet, one or more additional or supplementary entry or account sheets, with means fcr readily identifying the latter. These supplemental sheets, when employed, are inserted directly in front of the main entry sheet pertaining to that alphabeticaldivision under which such special account or accounts fall; and Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates the typical use of such supplemental sheets. Let it be assumed that there are, under the index CHA a number of accounts, such as Chase, Chapman, Chandler, etc. Supplemental entry sheets 15, cut away so that the upper right-hand corner of each will be exposed when all of the preceding index and entry sheets have been turned back, are inserted in front of the main entry sheet 9, and, preferably, the name or names identifying the entries or accounts carried on these supplemental sheets are written or printed on the exposed corner portions of said sheets, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3; and it will be observedthat the undermost of this series of supplemental sheets is cut away sufliciently far back so as to be undisturbed when the preceding entry sheet ima es 8 is thrown back. To illustrate the use of the book in connection with these supplemental entry sheets, let it be assumed that a frequently used account under the name of Chapman is to be found. The book is first opened to expose the index sheet identified by the tab CI shown in Fig. 2. Asthe name Chapman falls under the specific index CHA, the book isfurther' opened by placing the thumb on the upper index figure 9 and throwing back the index sheet and all of the main entry sheets pre ceding entry sheet 9, as is indicated in Fig. 3. This exposes the name Chapman on the upper corner of the next to the lowest of the supplemental sheets; and by placing the thumb on the name Chapman and again throwing back all of the overlying or preceding supplemental entry sheets (if any such there be), the Chapman account is brought to view. These supplemental entry sheets may be inserted in any desired numbers and at any desiredplaces accord ing to the requirements of each individual user of the book, for which purpose a looseleaf system is especially well adapted.

While, in order to accommodate large accounts or an unusual number of small accounts occurring under any particular specific alphabetical division, any or all of the entry sheets identified by the numbers at the upper right-hand corners thereof may be duplicated or multiplied to any desired extent, yet, the use of the specific supplemental sheets as above indicated is preferable, as saving considerable time in hunting through a number of similarly identified individual entry sheets. Where a single supplemental entry sheet is in itself insuflicient to carry the account or accounts under the special headmg of said sheet, it may, of course, be duplicated or multiplied by underlying sheets cut away to the same extent as the first sheet. It will thus be seen that the general scheme and arrangement of the supplemental entry sheets, where employed, is the same as that of the main entry sheets.

It is evident that thev particular mode of" of, and a plurality of groups of entry sheets interposed between adjacent index sheets,

the entry sheets of each group being cut away in graduated amounts along their up per margins, and the exposed portions of said entry sheets bearing identifying characters arranged respectively in vertical alinement with the several indices on said index sheet substantially as described.

2. A book for accounts and'other entries, comprising a series of index sheets each ruled to present vertical columns having a row of successive numerals in and across said columns, and also a row of successive alphabetical indices arranged in alphabetical order across said columns, and a plu rality of groups of entry sheets interposed between adjacent index sheets, the entry sheets of each group being cut away in graduated amounts along their upper margins, and the exposed portions of said entry sheets bearing a row of numerals similar to that on the controlling index sheet, said numerals being in vertical alinement respectively with like numerals and with the alphabetical indices on said index sheet, substantially as described.

3. A book including a group of leaves arranged in a set and cut away along one edge so as to leave exposed portions which are arranged in a stepped series, and having on said exposed portions page-indicating characters and a separate index for the said set of ledger leaves, appearing upon the uppermost leaf of the set and alphabetically subdivided, the said divisions being arranged respectively opposite the exposed portions of the leaves.

4:. A book including a group of leaves are ranged in sets which are cut away along one edge so as to leave exposed portions arranged in a stepped series and having on said exposed portions page-indicating characters and a separate index for each set of leaves, appearing upon the uppermost leaf of the set and alphabetically sub-divided,the said divisions being arranged respectively opposite the exposed portions of the leaves.

5. A book having leaves arranged in sets which are cut away along one edge so as to leave exposed portions arranged in stepped series, the numbers of the pages of the book appearing upon the said exposed portions, and an index for the book divided into sections corresponding with the afore said sets of leaves, each section appearing upon a separate sheet that is arranged as the uppermost leaf of each set, and the index being alphabetically sub-divided, and the sub-divisions being respectively designated by the numbers of the pages of the book covered by said sub-divisions.

6. A book including a group of leaves arranged in a set and cut away along one edge so as to leave exposed portions which are arranged in a stepped series, and having on said exposed portions page-indicating characters and a separate index for the said set of ledger leaves, appearing upon the uppermost leaf of the set and characteristically sub-divided, the said divisions being arranged respectively opposite the exposed portions of the leaves.

7. A book for accounts and other entries. comprising a series of index sheets each bearing alphabetical indices arranged in alphabetical succession across the face thereof, and a plurality of groups of entry sheets interposed between adjacent index sheets, the entry sheets of each group being cut away in graduated amounts along one of their margins, and the exposed portions of said entry sheets bearing identifying characters arranged respectively in vertical alinement with the several indices on said index sheet, substantially as described.

8. A book for accounts and other entries, comprising a series of index sheets each ruled to present vertical columns having a row of successive numerals in and across said columns, and also a row of successive alphabetical indices arranged in alphabetical order across said columns, and a plurality of groups of entry sheets interposed between adjacent index sheets, the entry sheets of each group being cut away in graduated amounts along one of their margins, and the exposed portions of said entry sheets bearing a row of numerals similar to that on the controlling index sheet, said 1111- merals being in vertical alinement respec tively with like numerals and with the alphabetical indices on said index sheet, substantially as described.

9. A book, comprising a group of sheets cut away along one edge so as to expose portions of the faces of thesheets in a stepped series, a subdivided index with characters of identification, the sub-divisions of the index having definite relation, in arrangement, respectively to the successive exposed stepped sheets, and supplemental sheets arranged between sheets primarily identified by the characters of the index, the inserted supplemental sheets being cut back along their edges to greater extent than are the sheets between which they are placed.

10. A book, comprising a group of sheets cut away along one edge so as to expose portions of the faces of the sheets in a stepped series, a sub-divided index with characters of identification, the sub-divisions of the index having definite relation, in arrangement, respectively to the successive exposed stepped sheets, and supplemental sheets arranged between sheets primarily identified by the charadters of the index, the inserted supplemental sheets being cut back along their edges in stepped series each to a greater extent than are the sheets between which they are placed, and the supplemental sheets being designated by characters on their exposed portions.

11. A book for accounts and other entries, comprising a series of index sheets each bearing numerals and successive alphabetical indices arranged in vertical columns having a row of successive numerals in and across said columns, the successive alphabetical indices being arranged in alphebetical order in and across said columns, and a plurality of groups of entry sheets interposed hetween adjacent index sheets, the entry sheets of each group being cut away in graduated amounts along their upper margins, and the exposed portions of said entry sheets bearing a row of numerals similar to that on the controlling index sheet. said numerals being in vertical alinement respectively With like numerals and with the alphabetical indices on said index sheet, substantially as described.

HENRY GAGE HOOK. Y

Vitnesses SAMUEL N. POND, WALTER M. FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentsv Washington, D. G. 

